~ News and Analysis Briefs

UN Report on Flotilla Incident Exonerates Israel

The UN report on the Mavi Marmara incident is now public and largely exculpates Israel. All the facts are as Israel contended. According to Yediot Ahronot, the U.S. government was pushing Israel to apologize to Turkey. One of the reasons Israel refused an apology was its clear and correct understanding that having a cold and hostile relationship with Israel is Erdogan’s goal. An Israeli apology over the Mavi Marmara would have gained next to nothing – while weakening Israel’s self-respect and its position in the region.

When a UN commission takes what is in many ways a stronger moral stance in defiance of the UN’s automatic anti-Israel majority than does our own government, we have a right to be disgusted.